Tuesday, January 29, 2008

The search for integrity in the cosmetic surgery market

The death of a Toronto woman from complications following liposuction has prompted Ontario to undertake a wholesale review of the regulation of cosmetic and aesthetic surgery, and sparked a national debate over which physicians should be allowed to perform invasive procedures.

Following Stryland’s death, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario canvassed the more than 2400 members to determine the extent to which doctors may have expanded their practices to include cosmetic and aesthetic procedures without having obtained appropriate training. It is believed several hundred doctors, mostly family physicians, have been advertising themselves as “cosmetic surgeons,” but have not been telling patients they are not formally qualified to perform surgery.